California · Hiking · Ansel Adams Wilderness · Near Mammoth Lakes

River South

River SouthPhoto: Alex Butterfield, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.0 mi
round trip
47 ft
climb
8,031 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is River South open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Inyo National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Inyo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

River South is a short, easy hike in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, within the Mammoth Ranger District of Inyo National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is about 2 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 47 feet. It is an out-and-back route that starts and ends at roughly 8,000 feet, with the high point at about 8,031 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes show July highs around 78°F with lows near 49°F, while winter highs sit around 41°F. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses. Bikes are not permitted, and it is not an accessible trail. Agnew Meadows Campground is about 0.3 miles away, and Agnew Horse Camp is about 0.5 miles away. Shadow Creek is a hike about 0.4 miles off. Farther out, the Middle Fork San Joaquin River offers paddling about 3.4 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Agnew Meadows Horse Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Outpost 14

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 4 mi
  • If it rains

    Art Gallery at Twin Lakes

    Gallery

    On your way back · 7 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Mammoth Lakes

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit River South

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      41° / 17°

    2. Feb

      41° / 18°

    3. Mar

      45° / 22°

    4. Apr

      51° / 27°

    5. May

      60° / 35°

    6. Jun

      70° / 42°

    7. Jul

      78° / 49°

    8. Aug

      77° / 47°

    9. Sep

      71° / 40°

    10. Oct

      61° / 30°

    11. Nov

      49° / 23°

    12. Dec

      41° / 17°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mammoth Lakes Rs, CA, 7.6 mi away at 7,804 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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